New Generation Vector for BRCA1 Gene Therapy Passes Preclinical Evaluation.(ovarian cancer gene therapy)

2001 FEB 22 - (NewsRx.com) -- by Michelle Marble, staff medical writer -- A novel vector for ovarian cancer gene therapy deserves serious consideration, researchers in the United States suggest.

"The aim of this study was to determine the preclinical stability, toxicity, and efficacy of a second-generation complement-resistant retroviral BRCA1 vector, MFG-BRCA1, for ovarian cancer gene therapy," wrote D.L. Tait and colleagues, East Carolina University ("Preclinical studies of a new generation retroviral vector for ovarian cancer BRCA1 gene therapy," Gynecologic Oncology, 2000;79(3):471-476).

"MFG-BRCA1 was packaged in human 293 renal cells and manufactured and tested under cGMP conditions and is allowed for use in humans by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration," the researchers said. "Vector stability studies were performed in mice and human serum by polymerase chain reaction analysis."

Tait et al. evaluated the animals for toxic side effects at necropsy. Histological analysis was used to determine levels of inflammation and organ damage.

They conducted tissue culture efficacy studies in vitro using ovarian and breast cancer cells. They found that the MFG-BRCA1 vector was more stable in human serum than the LXSN-BRCA1sv vector. They obtained significantly fewer clones using the MFG-BRCA1 vector, versus the MFG vector alone, in both cell lines.

In vivo efficacy studies were conducted using female nu/nu mice. Tait et al. injected the mice intraperitoneally ...